being nervous for interview

[gildas]

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For those who get nervous during inteviews, how do you moderate or calm yourself? How do you get rid of this habit?

 

[Cerbernator]

valium 😱

 

[Ypo.]

My brother suggested thinking "Dolly Parton has big boobs" but it didn't work for me, it just made me laugh.
Sorry, I'd like to know what works,too. Have you done practice interviews? I haven't but I think that would help.

 

[Ypo.]

valium 😱

Cerbenator- where did you get your quote from?

 

[Cerbernator]

Cerbenator- where did you get your quote from?

Family Guy

 

[stoic]

I think everyone is nervouse during their interview. That's part of the point - the adcom wants to see how you handle the pressure.

If you have very physiological responses to anxiety/nervousness (like sweating a lot) you might talk to you PCP about beta blockers.

 

[Ypo.]

Yeah, I guess we are supposed to exude confidence and not sweat.

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

How do you get rid of this habit?

I can relate to this problem, as I used to have it. I've always been a very personable and fun guy - to those who know me. I was quiet and restrained around those I dont know, and a little nervous when I had to talk to a superior. However, over the past few years, the activities that I have been involved with have taught me how to be relaxed and personable when in a nervous situation. Having to meet with dozens of important people in your field will force you to learn how to schmooze with the best of them; I believe I have become very confident and relaxed when talking to those that I used to be nervous around.

So whats my advice? Start by meeting with those who are your supposed superiors - professors, for example. Meet with every professor you have over the next year, for whatever reason, and before you know it you'll have no trouble talking to the chair of the chem department. Put yourself in social situations where you need to on the ball - for example, volunteer to work for a professor that is notorius for being harsh on what he thinks are stupid questions, and learn how to quickly adapt to that situation. Whatever you do, I promise your fear wont go away without confronting it and working on it.
I dont know if this advice is very helpful, but I hope it is.

 

[fun8stuff]

I can relate to this problem, as I used to have it. I've always been a very personable and fun guy - to those who know me. I was quiet and restrained around those I dont know, and a little nervous when I had to talk to a superior. However, over the past few years, the activities that I have been involved with have taught me how to be relaxed and personable when in a nervous situation. Having to meet with dozens of important people in your field will force you to learn how to schmooze with the best of them; I believe I have become very confident and relaxed when talking to those that I used to be nervous around.

So whats my advice? Start by meeting with those who are your supposed superiors - professors, for example. Meet with every professor you have over the next year, for whatever reason, and before you know it you'll have no trouble talking to the chair of the chem department. Put yourself in social situations where you need to on the ball - for example, volunteer to work for a professor that is notorius for being harsh on what he thinks are stupid questions, and learn how to quickly adapt to that situation. Whatever you do, I promise your fear wont go away without confronting it and working on it.
I dont know if this advice is very helpful, but I hope it is.

This is good advice. I have same story. Over the last few years it has become easier to talk to professors etc, then this summer I am doing research for a MD/PhD big shot who is very intimidating. First time I talked to him it was like an interview... i choked, at least I thought I did... but it is definately important to practice if you have this problem!

 

[gildas]

I can relate to this problem, as I used to have it. I've always been a very personable and fun guy - to those who know me. I was quiet and restrained around those I dont know, and a little nervous when I had to talk to a superior. However, over the past few years, the activities that I have been involved with have taught me how to be relaxed and personable when in a nervous situation. Having to meet with dozens of important people in your field will force you to learn how to schmooze with the best of them; I believe I have become very confident and relaxed when talking to those that I used to be nervous around.

So whats my advice? Start by meeting with those who are your supposed superiors - professors, for example. Meet with every professor you have over the next year, for whatever reason, and before you know it you'll have no trouble talking to the chair of the chem department. Put yourself in social situations where you need to on the ball - for example, volunteer to work for a professor that is notorius for being harsh on what he thinks are stupid questions, and learn how to quickly adapt to that situation. Whatever you do, I promise your fear wont go away without confronting it and working on it.
I dont know if this advice is very helpful, but I hope it is.

Thanks for your advice SanDiego

 

[superdevil]

Originally Posted by yposhelley
Yeah, I guess we are supposed to exude confidence and not sweat.

although some of us shall be exuding both! 😀

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

This is good advice. I have same story. Over the last few years it has become easier to talk to professors etc, then this summer I am doing research for a MD/PhD big shot who is very intimidating. First time I talked to him it was like an interview... i choked, at least I thought I did... but it is definately important to practice if you have this problem!

LOL... My first conversation with a research boss I've had (an extremely bright, accomplished professor) was nerve wracking, as it seemed as though he was judging my intelligience in that meeting. Which, of course, he was; first impressions are where we make our decision on the capabilities of the people we meet. I choked in that first conversation and said some things that I thought back to and thought "why the **** did I say that? That was ******ed!" Luckily I stuck around the lab and have shown that im not the idiot that I looked like in that first meeting.

 

[Ypo.]

although some of us shall be exuding both! 😀

Lets just hope we don't exude anything worse than that, OK?

 

[leechy]

i'm not so great with interviews, so i'm thankful for the advice here. though seriously, sometimes i think i'll take a gin and tonic before my interviews... 🙁

 

[ambrosia]

though seriously, sometimes i think i'll take a gin and tonic before my interviews... 🙁

amen to that 😀

 

[leechy]

Lets just hope we don't exude anything worse than that, OK?

Wow, now what substance would that be? *ruminates* Oh, I see.

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

i'm not so great with interviews, so i'm thankful for the advice here. though seriously, sometimes i think i'll take a gin and tonic before my interviews... 🙁

I don't think that's a great idea - you might be less nervous, but you'll definitely be less sharp as well. You need to be at the top of your game for an interview - alcohol may keep you from that apex.
You might have been joking with your statement, but I responded anyways as I'm sure someone out there has been thinking about doing the same thing.

 

[leechy]

I don't think that's a great idea - you might be less nervous, but you'll definitely be less sharp as well. You need to be at the top of your game for an interview - alcohol may keep you from that apex.
You might have been joking with your statement, but I responded anyways as I'm sure someone out there has been thinking about doing the same thing.

Ok, maybe I'll hold off on the gin and go for a beer. 😉 No, you're right, I was half-kidding about the alcohol. I've been in some nerve-wracking situations before, and it is hell-a tempting to chug a few, but I don't think I ever will.

On a more serious note, thanks for the interview advice earlier in the thread.

 

[TTSD]

wack-off in the bathroom right before the interview.

 

[Nate]

I downed three shots before my wedding.

 

[ad_sharp]

wack-off in the bathroom right before the interview.

Seriously though.......stay up until you're too tired to care.

 

[calstudent]

I downed three shots before my wedding.

that's funny.
but, i want to agree wholeheartedly with sandiego's idea about office hours for professors: just go and talk to them. for student interviewers, we will probably be more confident anyway because they will be sort of like our peers.
for the adcom. members who are faculty, you can get good practice with your own profs.
great advice sandiego

 

[camstah]

you know, i didn't do any practice interviews or anything...and i was nervous as heck...and totally botched my first interview.....
once i went through the first one though, it was much easier and less stressful going into the second....i had worked on my responses (i.e. actually thought about them before going) and figured, what the heck, the interviewer knows that i'm interviewing, and that i'm going to be nervous...they're not expecting you to be abraham lincoln with the greatest speech in the world or anything....they just want to chat....and a lot of them want you to not feel nervous.....
so, a practice interview with ANYONE would work fine....just as long as you hear yourself talking, and have a general idea of what you would say to certain questions....
also, don't be afraid to think before answering a question.....don't feel you have to respond right away....you don't....repeat the question if you have to.....that's the advice they give to people speaking in public to stall for time to think....it's good advice....
this isn't an oral quiz...so don't think of it as one 😉
and good luck to everyone who will be interviewing this year 🙂

 

[vernio]

I have a slight stuttering problem, so when I went on interviews, I would feel it out...if I was really nervous and I began to stutter, I would stop and be like, "I'm sorry, Dr. so and so, but I have a slight stutter and am just a little bit nervous right now..." that way, he would understand what was going on and I would feel more comfortable... if everything was cool, i would not say a word about it...in all honesty, once you "break the seal" and have your first interview and understand what it's all about, some of that nervousness should go away...another thing that I realized that helped me out is that this whole interview is about you and who knows yourself and the answers to questions about yourself better than you do...one last point, once you get some invitations for some interviews, go on the SDN medical school interview feedback site and copy and paste all of the questions you see onto a piece of paper...then set up a mock interview and give your interviewer those specific questions beforehand...you will be shocked by how many of the exact same questions you will here on the big day...good luck!

 

[UseUrHeadFred]

I think trying to pick up chicks in bars has definately helped my confidence in stressful social situations.

Just kidding 🙂

 

[Ypo.]

I downed three shots before my wedding

Wow, you know thats probably not very flattering to your spouse.

 

[Nate]

I downed three shots before my wedding

Wow, you know thats probably not very flattering to your spouse.

Not my spouse anymore 😉

 

[fun8stuff]

LOL... My first conversation with a research boss I've had (an extremely bright, accomplished professor) was nerve wracking, as it seemed as though he was judging my intelligience in that meeting. Which, of course, he was; first impressions are where we make our decision on the capabilities of the people we meet. I choked in that first conversation and said some things that I thought back to and thought "why the **** did I say that? That was ******ed!" Luckily I stuck around the lab and have shown that im not the idiot that I looked like in that first meeting.

Yup... same story here all the way!

 

[fun8stuff]

wack-off in the bathroom right before the interview.

Yes, you never want to go out with a loaded gun! It's dangerous!

 

[fun8stuff]

I downed three shots before my wedding.

yes, for one of my speeches in public speaking class my friend and I had a shot of bacardi each... got an A on the speech, but my face was still red throughout the presentation- so it still looked like I was nervous, although I didnt feel as much so.

 

[Swack]

I was thinking about doing this before a presentation. And I'm taking speech right now and considering it. Do you do this habitually?

 

[fun8stuff]

I was thinking about doing this before a presentation. And I'm taking speech right now and considering it. Do you do this habitually?

No, I have only done it that once- lol, as kind of a joke. I don't think I would recommend it, but if you do there are some things to consider. If a shot gets you drunk, don't take a shot. Just take enough to relax you. Another thing, you should practice giving the speech the night before after taking a shot- just so you know what it will be like. Obviously if you are so drunk that you are slurring words, can't stand up straight, falling over, throwing up, or your thinking ability is impaired, then it isn't worth doing this.



Oh and I don't think it had an effect on my grade or my performance, I had been getting mostly A's before. But, it did relax me and make it easier for me to go up in front of everyone.

 

[gildas]

How did this become alcoholics' thread? Just kiddin'

 

[Ypo.]

Not my spouse anymore 😉

Hee hee

 

[Pinkertinkle]

aren't most interviews low stress? What's to be super nervous about?

 

[Ypo.]

No, I have only done it that once- lol, as kind of a joke. I don't think I would recommend it, but if you do there are some things to consider. If a shot gets you drunk, don't take a shot. Just take enough to relax you. Another thing, you should practice giving the speech the night before after taking a shot- just so you know what it will be like. Obviously if you are so drunk that you are slurring words, can't stand up straight, falling over, throwing up, or your thinking ability is impaired, then it isn't worth doing this.



Oh and I don't think it had an effect on my grade or my performance, I had been getting mostly A's before. But, it did relax me and make it easier for me to go up in front of everyone.

Advice to the OP; please don't drink before the interview- its just not a good idea. It would be like taking crystal meth for the MCAT.
Just do mock interviews with someone who is really trying to psyche you out and take it seriously. You can do it.
I empathize with your problem- i have the same problem. I laughed in my interview because i was so nervous-(this made the interviewer look down in embarassment for me). I have lived through months of shame because of this but won't be drinking.

 

[OnMyWayThere]

I tried drinking before a presentation that I was nervous about and it really didn't do much.

I might try Valium for my interviews. A big might because I don't wanna feel too relaxed as if I don't give a ****.

 

[Iffy premed]

Most schools don't do stress interviews anymore. Alot of interviewers just want to have a conversation. And what can be a better conversation than one that is ALL about you? 😀

Forget abou the small chitchat, forget about complimenting his tie, your interview is a humble advertisement of yourself. Of course, always good idea to skip the horrible lunches that they always stuff you with.